Carterton cyclist Sue Lyttle, 52, is ticking the box on one of her "bucket list" experiences by her participation in the Lion Foundation Cycle Challenge 2009, which yesterday passed through Wairarapa on its six-day journey to Auckland.
Lyttle was second to women's leader Rachel Larner heading out of Masterton on yesterday's
mission through Pahiatua to Palmerston North.
"It's a good challenge, something to stick on your bucket list," Lyttle she said, referring to the Jack Nicholson-Morgan Freeman movie about two men ticking off things they wanted to do before they "kick the bucket".
Lyttle first got into mountain biking with her son Scott, now an international rider, and together they made the transition to road bikes after initially trying it as a cross-training exercise.
She said the Rimutaka Hill was "quite a bruising ride" and the race, which finishes at Pukekohe on Saturday, would be "really just a race of attrition".
"You don't really go fast; you get in a bunch and sit in there and be sensible; there's a long way to go," she said.
Asked what she had for breakfast, Lyttle said "just normal, toast and coffee".
"The temptation is to think 'I'm doing great things' and max out on the food, but it puts too much strain on your body you just do what you normally do."
The riders headed out of Masterton down Te Ore Ore Road on a route that led through Alfredton.
The race has attracted some top cyclists from previous years, including organiser Stephen Cox, Jack Swart, Stephen Swart and Blair Stockwell.
